Geoelectrical Surveys in the First Spanish Settlement on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, Panama

Abstract

Results of electrical mapping and electrical resistivity imaging at the Panama Viejo archaeological site, Panama (Central America) are presented. This ancient colonial city was the first and most important European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas during the spanish conquest. To understand the use of natural resources and the lifestyles of the first European people who settled on the Isthmus of Panama after the discovery of America, a series of surveys were conducted. The results of electrical mapping and some electrical resistivity tomographies revealed a group of resistivity anomalies associated with pebble floors, colonial roads, stone rubbles and foundations of historical buildings. Another set of electrical resistivity tomography was developed in the eastern sector of the city, near the ocean, the results showed electrical anomalies linked to bedrock and intrusion of seawater. These results give us valuable information about the boundaries of the ancient city. The information obtained was validated by the archaeological survey on the site.